ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, chairing meeting of Cabinet Committee on Energy, Monday directed timely completion of different ongoing power projects across the country and said he would personally monitor the progress to ensure it.
The prime minister said significant addition of power to the national grid would minimise loadshedding. He said increased power generation would also contribute to economic growth through increased industrial activity.
Federal Secretary Water and Power briefed the meeting that the year 2015 remained most stable as well as the best period for generation of power during the last ten years due to lowest line losses in terms of technicalities and recovery.
There was 5.8% reduction in the line losses during the year due to better monitoring and robust strategy to eliminate corruption and leakages, the Secretary told the meeting.
The prime minister was informed that there was an increase of Rs 51 billion in recoveries while Rs 10 billion were saved due to decrease in line losses. Secretary Water and Power said due to better generation cost and monitoring Rs 57 billion were saved.
The meeting was informed that fuel stocks in the country were in excellent shape; peak generation of power was 17,000MW last year as a result of better efficiency and management. He said year 2015 was the only year that witnessed the start of facilitation to new IPPs that would generate 12,000MW of electricity.
Sharif was briefed about timeline of different power projects to be completed by end of 2016 and those that would be operational by end of 2017. The meeting was assured of active and available 9090MW addition to the national grid by the winters of 2017.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique, Minister for Water & Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif and senior officials.
